Water tank for toilet flushing

ABSTRACT

WATER TANK FOR TOILETS OR SIMILAR INSTALLATIONS WHERE PERIODICAL FLUSHING IS NEEDED, WITH AN AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING FILLING VALVE AND WITH A DISCHARGE DEVICE, OPERATING ACCORDING TO THE SIPHON PRINCIPLE UNDER ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE.

Feb.l 9,Y 1971 E. F. LOPEZ I WATER TANK FOR TOILET FLUSHING Filed April25. 196s hUnited States Patent O 3,561,013 WATER TANK FOR TOILETFLUSHING Emilio Fernandez Lopez, Uruguay, Mexico (249 W. 14th St., NewYork, N.Y. 10011) Filed Apr. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 732,474 Int. Cl. E03d1/07 U.S. Cl. 4-42 9 Claims ABSTRAT oF THE DISCLOSURE Water tank fortoilets or similar installations where periodical flushing is needed,with an automatically operating filling valve and with a dischargedevice, operating according to the siphon principle under atmosphericpressure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to water receptacleswhich are periodically discharged and which are automatically refilledand in particular to a new discharge device and to a new refilling valvein the water receptacle.

Water receptacles, especially tanks for toilet flushing, are knownhaving a discharge valve conventionally consisting of a rubber ball, andhaving a refilling valve which is controlled by a float in such mannerthat the float opens the valve when the water level in the tank dropsand closes the valve gradually with the rising water level. The ballvalve mechanism is primitive and consists of several parts which areloosely linked together, causing occasional jamming and malfunctioning.The refilling valves which are known, close against the water pressurein the water supply line and are known to have the tendency to leak.

These problems are intended to be solved by this invention.

SUMMARY The invention consists in such novel features, constructionarrangements, combinations of parts and improvements as may be shown anddescribed in connection with the apparatus herein disclosed by Way ofexample only and as illustrative of a preferred embodiment. The natureof this invention is to use certain laws of physics iu the functions ofthe structure in a favorable way. Objects and advantages of theinvention will be set forth in part hereafter and in part will beobvious herefrom or may be learned by practicing the invention, thesarne being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities andcombinations pointed out in the appended claims.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel water tank fortoilet flushing, in which the discharge element operates without avalve.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a discharge elementfor a Water tank, which is leak-proof sealed in the bottom of the tankand which has no virtually displaceable members.

Furthermore it is an object of the invention to provide a dischargeelement which operates according to the principle of a Siphon using theatmospheric pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide in the novel water tank anautomatic lling valve which is opened against the pressure in the watersupply pipe line and which is eventually tightly closed by the waterpressure.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a filling valve in awater tank, which is secured in the closed position by a toggle linkageoperated by a oat.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a water tank fortoilet fiushing with discharge and automatic lilling means which are ofsimple and sturdy yet very effective structure and which can beeconomically produced.

3,561,013 Patented Feb. 9, 1971 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In thefollowing description and in the claims, parts will be identified byspecific names for convenience, but such names are intended to be asgeneric in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures ofthe drawing, in which FIG. l shows a water tank for toilet flushing,sectioned in a longitudinal vertical plan.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the automatic filling valve, taken alongthe line 2 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the water discharge element, taken alongthe line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in more detail tothe drawing showing a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is inFIG. 1 a water tank 11 which has a valveless discharge elementconsisting of an outer tube 12 and an inner tube 13. Outer tube 12 has aclosed upper end 14 and an open lower end 15. Inner tube 13 has an openupper inlet end 16 and an open lower discharge end 17. Inner tube 13which has a substantially smaller diameter than outer tube 14 ispermanently attached on one side to the inner wall of outer tube 14 (asshown in FIG. 3) by any suitable operation, such as soldering, brazing,Welding, riveting or the like. Tubes 12 and 13 may be made of any rigidmaterial, such as steel, nonferrous metal or plastic. Lower end 17 oftube 13 is tightly held in an elongated sleeve 18 of a diaphragm 19which has a strong ring-shaped border 20. A flange 21 seals diaphragm 19firmly by its border 20 against the bottom of tank 11 by bolts 22.Diaphragm 19 may consist of rubber or of rubber-like elastic plastic orother suitable material. Tank 11 has an oversize opening 23 throughwhich tube 13 freely passes. Upper end 16 of tube 13 is bent at an angleof approximately 35 degrees for reasons which will be explained below. Alever arrn 24 is attached at lower end 15 of tube 12. An operating lever25 swings freely on a short shaft 26 and is connected with the end oflever arm 24 by a link 27. Shaft 26 extends outwardly of tank 11 where ahand-operated lever 28 is attached thereto.

The automatically operated water filling Valve 30 has a body 31,preferably made of metal, which has a lower tube-like part 32. The upperpart 33 of valve 30 has a horizontally orientedl cavity 34 which is openon one side of upper part 33. Cavity 34 is connected by a passage- Way35 with lower part 32. At passageway 35, a shoulder 36 is formed againstwhich a valve seat 37 is placed. Valve seat 37 consists of a ring madeof rubber, rubberlike plastic or other suitable elastomer. Valve seat 37is held in place by a tube-like inert 38 in part 32. Insert 38 has anintermediate bottom 39 which is perforated for acting as strainer. Lowerpart 32 is threaded on the outside, upper part 33 has a flange 40, sothat valve 30 can be inserted in a bore 41 of tank 11 and can be firmlysecured by a screw nut 42.

A small plunger 43 is axially movable in upper part 33. A small rod 43is attached to plunger 43 and ends in a valve cone 44 which is seatedagainst seat ring 37. Two parallel walls 45 extend upwardly from upperpart 33. Between 4walls 45, a socket 46 is swingably mounted on a pin47. Plunger 43 has a small bore parallel to pin 47. A short link 48 isfitted into the small bores in the plunger and in the socket for movablyconnecting the two parts. A rod 49 is inserted in socket 46, extendingupwardly of valve 30. Rod 49 is bent at right angle at its upper endwhere it carries a float 50, which may contain a small loosely movableweight material 51 such as dry sand or steel shot. The water supply pipeline 52 is inserted in the lower end of tube-like part 32 and is heldtherein by means of gasket ring 53 and screw nut 54.

The operation of the water tank may be performed as follows:

When the tank has been filled to such a water level that the waterreaches the edge of the inner tube 13, as shown in FIG. l, a dischargeoccurs by depressing hand lever 28. Thus lever arm 24 is lifted so thatinner tube 13 is urged to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1.This is possible because diaphragm 19 is elastically flexed whereassleeve 18 keeps lower end 17 of tube 13 in a leakproof condition. 'I'hewater of the tank starts immediately to gush down through tube 13 anddue to the atmospheric pressure on the water and due to the fact thatthe discharge end 17 0f tube 13 is at a lower level than the water inthe tank, the water will continue gushing down until the water levelwill be down to the lower edge of outer tube 15. At this point, air canenter tube and breaks the siphoning effect stopping the furtherdischarge. Due to the elasticity of diaphragm 19, tube 13 will resumeits original position shown in full lines.

In the meantime, float 50 has leaned over, partly due to the sinkinglevel of the water, partly due to the weight of the shifting material 31inside the float. Thus plunger 43 is pushed downward by link member 48.The leverage proportion between the hinge point of pin 47 and the pointof suspension of link 48 is such that valve 44 which is connected by rod43' with plunger 43, is lifted off seat 37 against the water pressure inthe supply line 52. Water can now enter freely into tank 11 from belowthe level of the water which remained in the tank, refilling the samewith a minimum of noise. When the water level again reaches float 50, itwill start resuming its redressed position whereby link 40 pulls plunger43 upwardly. Thus valve 44 is pulled against seat 37 with the ow of thewater, and when valve 44 closes against seal 37, the pressure of thewater below valve 44 which is substantially higher than the pressure ofthe water in the tank above it, aids in leakproofingly seating valve 44.

It is obvious that a rapid discharge of the water contents iseffectuated because the discharge line is fully open at once Iwhen thesiphoning effect takes place; an equally rapid refilling takes placebecause the refilling valve remains fully open until the tilted float 50is reached by the rising water level, and only during the last phase ofrefilling a gradual slow-down of the water flow occurs.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to acertain preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art after understanding the principleof the invention, that various other changes and modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and itis intended therefor in the appended claims to cover all such changesand modifications.

What is claimed is:

1. A water tank for flushing, comprising a valveless discharge devicecomprising an outer tube having a closed upper end and an open lowerend, an inner tube having an upper portion extending within said outertube and a lower portion having an open discharge end, said lowerportion extending from said lower end of said outer tube, and a flexiblediaphragm; said upper portion of said inner tube having an open inletend spaced from said closed end of said outer tube and having a diametersmaller than the diameter of said outer tube, said inner tube beingpermanently attached at the outer wall surface thereof to the inner wallof said outer tube, said inner tube being bent intermediate said endsthereof at an angle of substantially 35 degrees and having said lowerportion inserted in said flexible diaphragm, and an automatic refillvalve having a valve seat and a vertically movable valve member thereinsealingly pressed against said seat by the pressure of the refillingfluid when said valve is in closed position.

2. A water tank according to claim 1, the said bend in said inner tubebeing adjacent said lower open end of said outer tube.

3. A water tank according to claim 1, lever means attached to the outerwall of said outer tube, operating means connected to said lever meansfor deecting said inner tube by way of said outer tube in said diaphragmfor causing the water in said tank to be discharged through said innertube in a Siphon-like manner by atmospheric pressure.

4. A water tank according to claim 1, a plunger connected with saidvalve member, a float having a rod attached thereto and meansarticulatedly connecting said rod `with said plunger for moving saidplunger vertically up and down by the movement of said float.

5. A Water tank according to claim 1, lever means attached to the outerwall of said outer tube, operating means connected to said lever meansfor deflecting said inner tube by way of said outer tube in saiddiaphragm for causing the water in said tank to be discharged throughsaid inner tube in a Siphon-like manner by atmospheric pressure.

6. A water tank according to claim 3, a plunger connected with saidvalve member, a float having a rod attached thereto and meansarticulatedly connecting said rod with said plunger for moving saidplunger vertically up and down by the movement of said float.

7. A water tank for toilet flushing comprising a valveless dischargeelement consisting of an outer tube and of an inner tube, said innertube being permanently attached by the outer wall surface thereof to theinner wall of said outer tube, and a diaphragm; said inner tubesealingly inserted in said diaphragm, a refill valve having a valve seatand a vertically movable valve member therein sealingly pressed againstsaid seat by the pressure of the refilling water when said valve is inthe closed position, and a float operatively connected with said valvemember.

8. A water tank for toilet flushing according to claim 7, lever meansattached to the outer wall of said outer tube, operating means connectedto said lever means for defiecting said inner tube by way of said outertube in said diaphragm for causing the water in said tank to bedischarged through said inner tube in a Siphon-like manner byatmospheric pressure.

9. A water tank for toilet fiushing according to claim 8, a plungerconnected -with said valve member, a float having a rod attached theretoand means articulatedly connecting said rod with said plunger for movingsaid plunger vertically up and down by the movement of said float.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 758,970 5/ 1904 Jackson 4-421,203,106 10/1916 Fulton 4-42 1,335,715 3/1920 Scheier 4-42 1,386,9488/1921 Renner 4-50X 2,899,686 8/ 1959 Tchoubritch et al. 4-42 3,358,29512/1967 Wolfgram 4-42 FOREIGN PATENTS 286,026 7/ 1927 Australia 4--4229,700 10/ 1907 Great Britain 4-42 370,107 12/1906 France 4-42 1,113,61612/1955 France 4-47 1,451,438 7/1966 France 4-42 89,425 11/1896 Germany4-47 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner D. B. MASSENBERG, AssistantExaminer

